Building Differently

Experiments to lower construction costs, from utilizing shipping containers to 3D printing, have been happening for years. But have we found anything that will help us build affordable housing at scale, and for less? And if not, what will it take to get us there? We’ll take a closer look in Building Differently, an Under the Lens series. The series launched in October 2021. Don’t miss a beat by signing up for our weekly newsletter.

3D-Printed Houses: New Trend or Lasting Solution?

Shelterforce Staff - March 17, 2022

Look Close to Home for Construction Cost Savings

Can Robotics Help Solve the Affordable Housing Crisis?

Does ‘Innovation’ in Construction Just Mean Fewer Jobs?

Containing Costs Through Shipping Container Housing

Jake Blumgart - October 26, 2021

Reusing shipping containers for housing has been discussed for years. In West Palm Beach a whole affordable apartment building will be built out of them.

How Community Developers Are Using Alternative Construction Methods

Jared Brey - October 25, 2021

Community developers try out new technologies and processes, oftentimes out of a sense of responsibility to help put potential solutions to the test.

Can New Construction Methods Lower the Cost of Housing?

Jared Brey - October 19, 2021

3D printing, repurposed shipping containers, and offsite manufacturing have been held up as potential solutions to the country’s affordable-housing crisis. But are these new construction technologies helping?

Building Differently: Can It Reduce Construction Costs?

Miriam Axel-Lute - October 18, 2021

Experiments to lower construction costs, from reusing shipping containers to 3D printing walls, have been happening for years. But are any of these approaches able to provide meaningful savings at scale?